Lydia of the Pines

old. Perhaps that is why they die an

ur miles northeast and there were little-used, needle-covered roads to be found that le

ieve adventure that they started on what they called a Bee-line southwest. And it was mid-aftern

cheese and ate them perched on a dr

t as he threw away the empty sard

Let's start back. We'll be there by sup

gum, took one himself, put a huge su

dusk found them still threading the endless aisles of pine, thei

Kent as they paused for

um till I'll scream if I see another piece.

he Indians understand where the camp is, it would be all right. And

o Kent. "Supposing we have to stay out

e," said Kent in a mat

umed, "and fix you up o

rd all night, like

d Lydia. "Kent, what's the use of s

t! I hope the folks won't worry about us. In the meantime, you

ut. Crickets shrilled and an occasional owl hooted. Lydia m

! Kent, are

't the fern and the needles smell fine? Lyd, what

e University

work. Why waste four years learning a l

d take engine

e real estate business. There's real money in that, particularly if Lev

ything but a scrub woman if I don't get educated. And all our folks back East were college

don't think I'm too smart, bu

hat the hurry

with and a peachy looker, but you don't suppose a f

ydia, meekly. "Nobody w

n. If I ever catch you running rou

ous in Kent's tone, nev

it when you don't see m

growing up the way a girl ou

was getting an amount of comfort out of the conversation tha

u flirt?" she

llow can't help flirting with girls like Margery a

dia, suddenly, "

Kent. "What mak

around, and father said they were hussies. And I saw Gustus flirting with one of them, and

ask your fathe

aid I'd know wh

burner. Kent was only seventeen. He sat staring with puzzled eyes into the darkness. He tried to picture Olga putting a question like this to him, and failed. A sudden real

Lake City chase after the students and the Indians who've go

h!" Then thoughtfull

want to know about such things, you ask me. It's a man

, "and of course, you're j

brotherly as-Gee, t

blaze. The two jumped to their feet and, wea

crowd, I gues

orrected Kent. "Hold on a minute, Lydi

a giant pine trunk and the two p

pow-wow, half breeds,

ierce in the firelight," she murmu

l watch them a minute, then I'

clothes and moccasins squatting around

spered Lydia, with some of the old thrill of pirate

some one else. Fo

m the darkness of the f

g into an empty space, opp

turned th

ods, except for t

en, I don't want to know." The cold s

ot to stay. It's your business

e's Feather?"

replied

and his crowd, they'll make a big fight. I may have to compromise. I may m

n. "Full blood don't

ices for your land, but worse for us whites, for there'll be less land, unl

laughed. "I'll swear old Chief Dawn had a white great-grandmoth

way for all of you to pay up old debts. A

the woods measuring out a road and they acted like they was just out for a vacation w

t it was the same familiar, sallow face, with the gaunt look about the cheeks. Only the eyes were strange. Lydia

lks have got to report, after six months

l the shoes we buy this year made out of paper, cost four dollars, melt when they get we

nted Levine. "

w for an old squaw came tottering into the

squaw, Kent, remembe

!" murmu

hn. There was something siniste

e man," she snarled. "

poor old devil, you look half starved." He dug into his pocke

e dollar to Levine's face an

a trembling, scrawny finger at the scowling mixed bloods. "White man-dirty fool-dirty thief," and she spat at Levine

eep drawn sobs of the old, and tottering over to the silver she picked it up. "Hungry!" she sobbed. "All the

s of the woods, through which, however, a silver light was beginning to fi

ising moon. In less than half a mile they found the lake and f

at!" demanded Kent as they headed f

ped Lydia. "Wha

e what happens. Lord, what an adventure! Lyd, I wo

Levine!" she murmured. "My best

ee, what rich pickings! Me f

squaw said. And it's just the mea

e that land and if a lot of sentimental grannies won'

he moonlight took Lydia by the shoulders. "Look here, Ly

g of the kind,"

d broad, his dark face tense; the girl, slender, her

!" repea

ot!" retu

o box her ears and yet, as he gazed at the wistful,

'll say nothing while

ould she tell the story and what could any one do!

lady. Gee, this beats hanging poor old Florence Dombey un

y trudged into the camp. Charlie and Gustus came

l Miss Towne, the grouchy Miss Towne, threw her arms about

help," said Charlie, "though we were prett

follow the roads and got lost going and coming. We waited for the m

id Margery. "Come on, Gust

stay away from her mother," observed Kent

ck and let me fix the c

been eying L

dining-room bench, rig

n, Lyd.

amp with Miss Towne while the others, including even

owne observed, her eyes were fastened broodingly on the lake and not on the printed page. Th

to you, yesterday?" asked

, sunburned face toward

e! Kent's lik

other, my dear. Always remember that.

hing to do with Kent.

scarlet face and quivering lips. "It's just that you are so fine, I can't bear to have you do anything that isn't fine. I've been planning to talk to you for a long time abou

back the tears when a horse's hoof beats sounde

meet him, what she was going to say to him. But now, her only thought w

dear! My dear!" she cried and hair flying, she ran to him and threw he

ile with his free hand he smoothed back the glory of her hair. A

e you'd missed me so." He held her silently for a

strong," he said. "I'm her foste

And this is Miss Towne," sh

ises sung for a long

dia sing yours," r

se, I'll bet,"

gnity she could muster with her hair down he

s?" called Lydia as she r

be back in Lake City for supper,"

Miss Towne set the table, John chatted with both of them of his Washington experiences. He r

hat he's the scandalous

imply c

e contradict aspersions cast on Levine's character. And yet, how like a

criticism of your slang using, are yo

ed Lydia, "I

ed. "Well, then, tell m

teres

ing of having spied unfairly on John than to spend the rest o

as making history for Lake City. In after years, whenever she thought of Levine, Miss Towne's memory brought her two pictures-one of the tall, sardonic faced

people sat alone arou

a headache and went to

ed, and the tent flap

chanted

ol's

er's

or

tle shriek but blushed and looked pleased and Gustus settled down with his he

against a log, arranged her skirts. "Come on, Charlie," she said, with a glance

't feel "crazy" about her. She was sitting bolt upright, with her cheeks flaming a little when she felt Kent's arm stealing round her. She did not resist when he pulled her softly against

Kent do this. And what did it amount to, anyhow! If this was

e squeeze said, "Didn't think you were such a flirt

r unoccupied hand. It was the same crisp black hair Lydia had pulled in many a childish quarrel and Kent

isode had crowded from her thoughts. Kent didn't respect girls that flirted and he told her he'd slap her if she flirted and ye

one of Lydia's favorit

hat from the

a drink

d betraying the Indians as he did so! And here was Kent, warning her against doing that which he was persuadin

wish I knew more about

th

rning. "Lydia," her father had said, "don't do an

ir a little tweak. "Get up, Ken

on and Lydia said, "I thought

h me it's differe

snapped. "All men make me sick. I'm going to bed." And she sta

ith an expression half

atter with Ly

ut the spooning b

's middle name,"

lutely O. K.,"

your big head over, Gustus, and g

dia's left the tent flap up.

nother song or